Mixture-heating device for internal-combustion engines



Get. 13, 1925. 355x220 F. STARR MIXTURE HEATING DEVICE VOR N'ERNAL CCLEUSTION ENGNES Filed Nov. 2e, 192;".

Pafente oct. 13, 192s.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

:FRANK F. STARR, or DAYTON, OHIO, AssIGNoR To nemo-LIGHT COMPANY, O'F DAYTON,

, OHIO, A CORPORATION or DELAWARE.

MIXTURE-HEATIIN G DEVICE FOR IN TERNAL-COMB'USTION ENGINES.

Application led November 28, 1923. Serial No. 677,136.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, FRANK F. STARR, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residin at Dayton, county of Montgomery, and Itate of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful 'Improvements in Mixture- Heating Devices for Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to electrical heating units for heating a passage through which a fluid is conducted and especially for heating fuel for an internal combustion en ine.

ne of the objects of the present invention is to heat a passage, such as an engine intake, by means of an electrical heating unit which is so constructed that the electrica-1 connections can be made without providing separate holes in the walls Of the passage.

To accomplish this object, one form of the invention includes an insert located between two ducts such as a cylinder head and a fuel intake pipe. This insert isI clamped between the adjacent ends of-these ducts and provides a passage connecting them; and supports a heating coil within the passage and terminals extending to the exterior of the insert.

Further Objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the -following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred embodiment of the present inven tion is clearly shown.

In the drawin Fig. 1 is a ragmentary cross-sectional View of an engine intake showing the improved heating unit partly in section.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on lines 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on lines 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, 26 is a cylin-n der head of an internal combustion engine which carries a valve 21 and is provided with a passage 22. An engine fuei intake 23 provides a passagev 24 in alignment with. passage 22. Head 2G and intake 23 are provided with flanges 25 and 23, respec- The heating coil unit 30 comprises a plurality of conductor plates 31 and 32 which are insulated from one another by non-conducting laminae 33. S1m1lar non-conductlng laminae are positioned on the outside facesv of the conductor plates 31 and 32. The non-conducting laminee 33 are rovided with holes 34 having a diameter su stantially the same as the diameter of passages 22 and 24 and the conductor plates 31 and 32 are provided with a plurality of arcuate slots 35 and-36. Fuel mixture for the internal oombustion engine passes from passage `24 through the holes 34,slots 35 and 36, through the passage 22. Since the plates 31 and 32 are only cut away as at 35 and 36, there are provided central portions 38 having holes 39 in the center thereof which are 'adapted to receive the reduced portions 40 of spools 41, the ends of which extend through the holes 39 and abut one another. Spools 41 are spirally grooved to receive heating coils 42 and 43, each of which have one end there` of connected respectively to plates 31 and32' by rivets 46. The other ends of the coils 42A and 43 merge into loops 44 and 45, respective-v ly. A bolt 47 extends through loop 44, spools 41, loop 45 and is adapted when tightened by nuts 48 to hold the spools 41-V in position with respect to the plates'31 and 32and to electrically connect the ends ofthe coils 42 and 43. f

Plates 31 and 32 are provided with` holes 51 and 52 which are formed symmetrically with respect to vertical line (as `seen in Fig. 3) passingy through the center thereof, the hole 51 being smaller in diameter than the hole Holes 53 are formed in insulating lamince 33 in direct alignment with holes' 51 and 52 and are substantially the same diameter asV that of hole 51. Plates and 3? are identical in shape and when sembled relation with respect ee 33 one of said plates is reversed so that hole 51 in plate 31 will be located opposite hole 52 on the plate- 32. f ii This construction and arrangement permits fastening together the plates 31 and 32 and the insulating laminas 33 with metallic rivets 55 while at the same time preventing electrical connection being formedbetween said plates. The `center portion of the plates e 31 and 32 are located by the spools 41, andv tor 61, plate 31, rivets '46, coil 42, loop the laminas 33 are connected to the plates 31'and 32by the rivets 55, each of which extends through the openings 53 of the laminas 33 and through hole 51 of conductor `plate 31 and through a Alarger hole 52 of conductor plate 32. In this manner the rivet 55 will not bein contact with the conductor plate 32 adjacent the openings 52 (see Fig. 4). Each rivet 55, therefore, locatesl all of the laminae 33 with respect to one of the plates 31 or 32. The spools 41 locate the plates 31' and 32 with respect to each other. Therefore displacement of the plates and laminae 33 is prevented.

Each plate is and when one o said plates is reversed, the ears will be spaced from one another as is clearly shown in Fig. 3. Ears project beyond the flanges 25 and 26 whereby the electrical conductors 61 and 62 can be readily attached thereto. It will be noted that the portions at which the lamin 33 and plates 31 and 32 are riveted together project beyond the members 20 and 23 and are not engaged thereby, ,whereby these members 20 and 23 will not have electrical connections with the rivets 55. An electrical circuit to the heating coils includes conduc- 44 bolt 47, loop 45, coil 43, rivets 46, plate 32 and conductor 62.l

Lamin 33 and lates 31 and 32 are provided with align holes 62, 63 and 64 respectively. The holes 63 in the lamin 33 are substantially the same diameter as that of the shank of the bolt 27 whereby the'unit 30 is located properl with respect to head 2O and intake 23.v he holes 63 and 64 in the conductor plates are somewhat larger in diameter than the shanks of the bolts 27 whereby the said bolts.

Certain advantages vare apparent inthe present invention, one of which is the proplates 31 and 32 will not engage v vision of a heating coil unit which can be inserted between the cylinder head of an vengine and the intake, the electrical connection'tlierefor extending-from the unit between these members whereby it is notrovided with an ear 60..

' electrical conductor for attachm other forms /might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

l. A fuel heating unit, comprising in combination, a pair of parallel electrical conductor plates, an insulating member between said plates, a heating element having one end connected to one of said plates, and means for supporting said element by and from said plates, said means including a. bolt connected to the other end of said element and to the other plate.

2. A fuel heating unit, comprising in combination, a pair of arallel electrical conductor plates, an insu ating member between said plates, a heating element having one end connected to'fone of said plates, an insulator carried by said late for carrying said heating element, and a bolt for holding the insulator in engagement with said plates, and for electrically connecting the other end of said heating element to the other plate.

3. A fuel heating unit, comprising in combination, a pair of parallel electrical conductor plates, an insulatin said plates, a heating e ement having one end connected to one of said plates, an insulating spool for ca ing said heating element, and a bolt exten ing through said spool for supporting the heating element and for electrically connecting the other end of the element to the other plate.

4. A fuel heating unit, comprising in combination, a plurality of electrical conductor plates insulated from one another, a plurality of heating elements each having one end connected to a conductor late, and an said heating elements to said lates and or connecting the other ends o? said heating elements.

,5. A' fuel heating unit, comprising in combination, a plurality of electrical conductor plates insulated from one another, a plu- Arality of heating elements each having one end connected to a conductor plate, and a plurality of insulating elements for carrying said heating elements, and an electrical conductor Velement for supporting the insulating elements and for electrically connecting the other ends of said heating elements.

6.\A fuel heatin unit, comprising in combination,- a plura it of electrical conductor plates insulated rom one another, a plurality of heating elements each having one end connected to a conductor plate, al p1urality -of aligned non-conducting spools for carrying said heating elements, and a con` ducting rod extending throu h said s ools and connected to the other en s of said eating elements and clamping the spools to the plates.

7. A fuel heating unit,

comprising in combination, a

conductor lamina having holes member between located on opposite sides of a center` line of sides of said conductor lamina and having said lamina, one of said holes being larger holes in alignment with the holes in the conin diameter than the other, a second condntor laminae, and a rivet extending 10 dnetor lamina similar to the first but invertthrough each set of holes.

5 ed whereby the larger hole in one lamina is In testimony whereof I heretofore aliX in alignment with smaller holes in the other, my signature.

insulating laminae between and on opposite FRANK F. STARR. 

